*Discounts do not apply to NPS or river access fees, tents or sleep kits, which can be rented from O.A.R.S. Most trips can be customized to include specific training, e.g. rowing/guiding skills, wilderness cooking, geology, Leave No Trace, etc.

Exploring the backcountry--whether wild rivers, remote trails or coastal waters--affects people in profound ways. There’s no denying it. Like John Wesley Powell or Lewis and Clark, the journey through these amazing places shapes those who venture forth.

Sounds a lot like Scouting, doesn’t it?

We’ve selected a number of river experiences in stunning backcountry settings that seamlessly integrate with the ideals and goals of any program, challenging Scouts to explore not only outside but also what’s inside. It’s an opportunity to turn off all the distractions and become immersed in the now.

And while setting out across the backcountry may be challenging, organizing your trip has never been easier. O.A.R.S. has taken care of all the logistics necessary to get your troop or crew ready for this trek of a lifetime. From shuttles, meals and skill-building activities, our guides have you covered.

Scout trips with O.A.R.S. include:

Professional guide service & instruction

Comfortable catered camping

Meals from lunch on day 1 through lunch on the last day

All expedition equipment is provided or available to rent, including 2-person shared tent, sleeping bag with liner, sleeping pad, pillow with pillow case, ground cloth and waterproof bags to hold your gear

Since 1969, O.A.R.S. has helped explorers experience wild rivers, trails and coastlines, opening up worlds they didn’t know existed. With more than 4 decades of experience, O.A.R.S. sets the gold standard for backcountry travel. Teaming with Don Hatch River Expeditions out of Vernal, UT in 2007, O.A.R.S. now has more offerings than ever on the rivers of the West.

Many O.A.R.S. guides credit Scouting with first introducing them to what became their passion for the outdoors. Company founder, George Wendt, is an Eagle Scout himself.

"When I first joined the Boy Scouts, I was actually scared of water over my head. To earn the rank of First Class, however, I had to learn how to swim and I started overcoming my apprehension of deep water. Then, my Scoutmaster encouraged me to go after the Swimming Merit Badge and he finally challenged me to go for the Life Saving Merit Badge on my path to earning the rank of Eagle. I give my Scoutmaster tremendous credit for his support and the camping trips we did fueled my love of the outdoors. It still seems somewhat unreal to me, but the skills I learned in Scouting enabled me to go out and start a rafting company, which is now the world's largest - with trips in the Grand Canyon, on the Middle Fork of the Salmon and on many other rivers around the West and the world." - George Wendt

Adventuring with O.A.R.S. isn’t just a trip, it’s an experience you’ll always remember. And the best part? Scouts and Scoutmasters alike will build character, skills and memories that last a lifetime.

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O.A.R.S. is an author ized concessioner of Arches, Canyonlands, Grand Canyon and Grand Te ton National Parks and Dinosaur National Monument.

For consecutive years, O.A.R.S. has been named the "Best River & Sea Outfitter on Earth" by National Geographic Adventure and one of the top two outfitters in the world by Outside Magazine in its annual Active Travel Awards recognition program. In multiple years, O.A.R.S.trips have been honored as "50 Tours of a Lifetime" by National Geographic Traveler and since 2007, Condé Nast Traveler has recognized Mindy Gleason, O.A.R.S. Reservation Manager and International Adventure Travel Consultant, as Condé Nast Traveler's standalone Top Travel Specialist in the River Rafting category.